FRIDAY SPEECH February 16, 2001

Jesus (SAWS) said : “Those who talk a lot about things other than the remembrance of God (SWT) will become hard hearted.”

In Islam God (SWT) wants every believer to control all of his faculties well since each has a definite role to play in order to use them for good and not evil. God (SWT) has revealed to us in the Holy Qur’an that parts of our body will testify against us:

“On that day we will put a seal on their mouths, but their hands will speak to us and their feet will be witness to what they have done.” (S36,v65)

Therefore man must be aware of physical actions since they are controlled by the soul which:

“Incites evil unless my God bestows mercy. My God is the one who pardons. He is the Merciful.” (S12,v53)

Among the parts of the body that require the most careful use is the tongue which is used to express one’s emotions, ideas etc. Many of man’s talents and abilities therefore depend on how this part of the body is used. The Prophet (SAWS) and the Imams (AS) have talked about the importance of this for instance, the Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Control your tongue, since it is a charity that you do for yourself.”

“God (SWT)’s servant does not know the truth of belief until he masters his tongue.”

If you want to be a true believer you should not say what displeases God (SWT) and say only what pleases him.

In another story the Prophet (SAWS) told a man who came to see him:

“Wouldn’t you like me to tell you about something you could do and as a result of this God would let you enter Heaven?”

When the man said yes the Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Give from what God has given you.”

Meaning that if God (SWT) has given someone some wealth he should give at least the part that God (SWT) has ordained. To this the man answered: ‘But what if I am in more need than him?’ And to this the Prophet (SAWS) answered:

“Then support the wronged”

‘What if I am too weak to support then?’ the man said.

“Then help those who are too young to run their own affairs”

‘But if I am not clever enough to them?’

“Then keep your tongue from saying any bad”

And this is something that every man weak or strong, rich or poor can do. The Prophet ended by saying:

“Aren’t you pleased that any of these good deeds could send you to heaven?”

Imam Ja’afar As Sadeq said that the messenger said:

“Who does not consider what he says as part of his deeds will commit a lot of sins and will be tortured.”

Some people think that belief is not to commit adultery, steal or do other forbidden things but the Prophet (SAWS) tells us that you can commit many sins with the tongue and when you do so you will be punished.

In another story a man came to the Prophet (SAWS) and said : ‘Give me some advice’

And the Prophet (SAWS) told him to control his tongue.

Then the man asked the same question and the Prophet (SAWS) replied :

“Control your tongue.”

When he repeated the same request for the third time the Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Control your tongue. Don’t you know that nothing will send you to Hell more certainly than the words you say.”

Imam Ja’afar As Sadeq reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said that God (SWT) will assign a certain punishment for the tongue which is more severe than the torture for any other part of the body. And when the tongue asks why it will be told:

“Because a word came out from you that reached the four corners of the earth and led to bloodshed, plundering of money… certain words might create fire in the heart and a tyrant’s words cause strife and various kinds of disasters.”

Imam Ja’afar also said that Jesus (SAWS) used to say:

“Don’t talk a lot about anything other than the remembrance of God (SWT) for those who do so will become hard of heart without realising it.”

Thus we have reviewed these illuminating words left to us by the Prophets and the Imams in order to understand one idea, which is that man has to be responsible in everything he does. He has to consider each word before he says it and decide whether it would please or displease God (SWT). Do not let your thoughts be dominated by your tongue’s passion thus killing other humans, which God (SWT) has prohibited you to do without a valid reason.

My dear brothers and sisters we will be asked about our words when we die. In this world when we say something we find that people will divide: some with you, some against you. But when you are judged who will defend you when you are asked about why you said certain words to your wife children and neighbours or how you supported the unjust instead of the wronged or how you backbit or hurt others with your tongue. Today you can do what you want without having to be accountable for it but on the Day of Judgement you will have to be accountable for what you have done and you won’t be able to do anything more to rectify it. So we had better do what God (SWT) wants to ensure that we will be OK on the Day of Judgement when nothing can help you other than your good deeds.

Worshippers of God (SWT) be pious in your words and make sure that they are words of truth, justice and good that establish the unity and strength of the community and stand with the weakened and wronged against the unjust and the arrogant. Especially as we are living in a time where there is an abundance of words that support the unjust and the corrupt and where one is not allowed to say the truth because of unjust rulers.

We have started to witness what we had expected about the Intefada entering a new stage of confrontation with the enemy as a result of the barbaric Israeli offensive whose political base is being established by the new government that includes all the Zionist assassins from both Likud and Labour.

Once again the Palestinian people have not disappointed us especially since they started these operations where they have shown their willingness to die for their cause and where the only weapon is their own body.